From the onset, it looked like Rafa
Benitez was set for another torrid afternoon in the Real Madrid dugout
as Rayo Vallecano raced into a 2-1 lead. Two red cards before halftime
went on to change the entire match and Real capitalized fully on their
numerical advantage, none more than Bale who bagged a quartet of goals.
Danilo
had given Real Madrid the lead after just 3 minutes as some beautiful
build up play allowed bale to set the full back free in the box and he
fired under the goalkeeper to open the scoring. Antonio Amaya
capitalized on a flat footed Real Madrid defence to knock in the
equalizer for his side in the 10th minute and in the 15th
minute, Sanchez turned the game on its head, rising highest to nod the
ball past Keylor Navas in the Madrid goal. The complexion of the game
however changed when Triguero was given his marching orders for a
dangerous tackle on Kroos. A few minutes later, Gareth Bale was in the
box to nod the ball home and give Real Madrid the lead. In the 29th
minute things went from bad to worse for Rayo as Urdiales was handed
his second yellow card for pulling down Sergio Ramos in the box.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and converted the penalty to give Real
Madrid the lead. Real Madrid continued to dominate the game and in the
41st minute, Bale raced into the Rayo box before finishing
into the corner of the net to make it 4-2. The second half continued in
the same vein in which the first half ended as three minutes after the
restart, Benzema was picked out perfectly by James Rodriguez and the
embattled French forward made no mistake, making it 5-2. Five minutes
later, James was the provider again as Ronaldo was the one this time on
the end of the Colombian’s cross with a powerful header to make it 6 for
Real Madrid. James again handed another assist in the 61st
minute, this time teeing up bale for a tap in to make it 7-2. At this
point Rayo fans and players as well as the manager were eager to be put
out of their misery but more was still to come as Bale scored his fourth
in the 70th minute, racing down the right before slotting
home to make it 8 goals in 6 matches for the Welshman this season. Not
to be left out of the party, Benzema helped himself to his second of the
game and Real Madrid’s 9th in the 80th minute,
latching on to Modric’s through ball before finishing smartly past the
goalkeeper. 10 minutes later, Benzema made it 10-2, smashing the ball
past the dejected Rayo goalkeeper and completing his hat-trick from just
inside the box.
Real Madrid have moved within two points of
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid but both clubs have a game in hand each
but Real Madrid would rest easy tonight knowing they have done a good
job. Benitez would however feel uncomfortable over his side’s
performance before the red cards.